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Add A Wall Light PDF
Add A Wall Light PDF
" How can I introduce another light or lights into my room switched independently of my
main light".
Please remember when attempting any electrical installations at home that you are obliged to
get the completed job tested by a fully qualified electrician and obtain a minor works
certificate. Failure to do this may render your house insurance invalid and you may have
difficulty selling your home.
As with our bathroom project, we believe in realism and although we didn't have a specific
contract to carry out this operation, we have made up a circuit board, using the actual fittings,
for you to view. Our project shows 2 wall lights added, but the same circuit can be used for an
additional ceiling light switched independently.
Trace a lighting cable from the light point nearest to the position of your new light/s. (do not
disconnect or cut anything yet) You need a cable that does not go to a switch. Make sure you
have enough slack on your chosen cable to insert a junction box and be able to fix it securely
to a joist or rafter. You may have to insert a timber "noggin" to achieve this fixing. You need to
work out where this position is, in relation to the position you will install your new cables
according to the circuit you choose.
For this example you will need to mark the wall for your switch, and both wall lights. Make a
hole large enough in the wall to accept the switch box (pattress), mark and chase a slot in the
wall wide enough to accept your cable and its conduit container. Take this chase up the wall
to the ceiling and make a hole in the ceiling at the back of the chase. (when the chase is filled
you will not see the hole).
Make the same chase and hole for the wires to the wall lights.
Take out a "blanking piece" from the pattress box and insert a rubber grommet to stop the
cable chafing the metal.
Connect the box securely to the wall using the holes provided. Take a length of 1.5mm cable
and run it from the cable you have identified earlier, through the hole in the ceiling and down
to a) switch b) both wall lights. Allow sufficient cable for your connections at each end.
Now we will be working on the level above, if you are in the loft, rig yourself up a suitable lead
light which you will be able to plug into an ordinary socket. This will still work when you switch
of the lighting circuit. It is as well to do this now to avoid too many trips up and down. Turn off
the power and remove the fuse.
Strip the ends of both wall light cables and fix them into a 4 terminal, 15amp junction box.
Leave an end terminal free and join both lives (red) in the other end terminal, then both
earths, then both neutrals (black). The earth wire will need a small piece of earth sleeving
over it. Fix this junction box securely to a joist or rafter.
Take a length of cable and strip the wires
from both ends, join the red (live) to the spare
terminal you have left in the first junction box.
The earth and neutral go to join the other
earths and neutrals in that same box. The
other end of this cable will go to the existing
circuit in a moment. Now take the end of the
switch wire and strip. Join the red to the single
red in what was the spare terminal, and the
black (after applying a piece of red tape), to
the other reds from your wall lights. This off
course means that both the black and red
wires to the switch are live, and you have
interrupted the live flow with the switch, which
when on, will complete the circuit.
The top right cable is the one which will go to the existing. Top left is a wall light cable. Bottom
left goes to the switch. Bottom right to the second wall light.
Top cables are existing, cut and joined. Bottom cable goes to second junction box.
Your complete circuit should look like this...only a bit more spread out !
The blue shaded area is your loft, or floor void, W = wall-lights & S = switch.
Now run through each connection, check it, fit the covers on junction boxes, insert the fuse
and switch on.
Complete the plaster-work before making a live connection, and make sure it is dry before
you do. Or check everything is working then turn it all off again to do the plasterwork waiting
until dry to turn on again.